Three of four people named in Grand Jury sealed indictments have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman they thought stole money and suboxone strips from them.
Savanah Arnold, Abigail Vogel, Johnny Devault and another woman (not yet arrested) are co-indicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, and theft under $500.
According to Smithville Police, the four defendants held the victim against her will at Arnold’s home on October 24. Arnold and the other woman then strip searched the victim, penetrated her body cavity looking for the money or drugs, and stole her clothes. The next day, October 25, Arnold allegedly dressed in the victim’s clothes, went to a local industry where the victim was employed and tried unsuccessfully to pick up the victim’s paycheck.
The victim came to the police department the day after the assault, October 25 to report the kidnapping, rape, and theft.
Lieutenant Matt Holmes related the story to WJLE on Wednesday, December 18 at the police department. “The victim said that on October 24, she went to Savanah Arnold’s house to watch the kids of some friends. While there, Arnold, Vogel, Devault, and the other woman showed up allegedly intoxicated on drugs and accused her of stealing from Arnold $575 and 60 suboxone strips. The victim denied it.
According to Lieutenant Holmes, Arnold and the other woman took the victim to a back room and strip searched her. “One of the suspects placed a trash bag on her hand and penetrated the victim, searching for the money or drugs. She did not find anything. The victim resisted the assault and asked if she could leave. They refused to let her leave and took her cell phone so she couldn’t call anyone. Johnny Devault allegedly threatened to assault the victim if she continued to resist. They stole the victim’s clothes, placed her in a car half dressed, drove off and then dumped her out on the side of the road,” he said.
The next day, October 25 Arnold dressed in the victim’s clothes and went to the victim’s place of employment. She entered the industry, walked up to the counter wearing the victim’s ID and asked for her paycheck, representing herself as the victim. An industry official noticed that Arnold was not the victim and asked why she was there. Arnold then changed her story stating falsely that she was there to pick up the paycheck for the victim who was in a Nashville hospital. When the industry official told her the victim would have to come and get the check herself, Arnold left. The industry later received a call from a female, falsely identifying herself as the victim, saying it was okay for them to give her paycheck to whoever came to pick it up.
Industry officials alerted Smithville Police to a possible identity theft. Lieutenant Holmes and Officer James Cornelius responded to the call. Arnold was taken into custody at the industry and charged with identify theft.
WJLE has obtained a copy of the indictment concerning the kidnapping, rape, and theft which alleges that Arnold, Vogel, Devault, and the other woman (not yet arrested) unlawfully and knowingly did confine the victim on October 24, so as to interfere substantially with her liberty, with intent to terrorize the victim or another, constituting the offense of Aggravated Kidnapping.
Count two of the indictment alleges that Arnold and the other woman did accomplish sexual penetration, unlawfully, while being aided or abetted by another person and through the use of force or coercion.
The third count of the indictment alleges that Arnold knowingly did obtain or exercise control over certain property, to wit: $20 and clothing being under the value of $500, the property of the victim, constituting the offense of theft.
Meanwhile, in a separate case Smithville Police have charged a Lebanon woman with theft over $10,000 for allegedly using the credit card of a local business to pay her personal bills over a ten month period from January to November, 2013.
42 year old Stacy Dawn Lannom, who works for a Watertown accounting firm, is under a $10,000 bond and she will be in court January 9.
21 year old Nathan Theodore Harmon is charged with burglary and theft over $500. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court January 9.
Chief Randy Caplinger reports that on November 25, Harmon and a juvenile allegedly broke into a building on South College Street through a window and took a large tool box and air conditioning duct work valued at $550. The stolen items were sold for recycling.
The juvenile will appear in juvenile court on a petition for committing a delinquent act.
40 year old Chrissy Evans was cited for shoplifting at Walmart on December 1. Chief Caplinger said a store employee told police that Evans was suspected of putting items in her purse. After she paid for some things, Evans was stopped. She produced several items she had not paid for in the amount of $149.50.
25 year old Joshua Ledale is cited for possession of schedule IV and VI drugs. He will be in court on January 14. Chief Caplinger said while responding to a fight call on December 3, an officer made contact with Ledale. The officer found a small bag of a green leafy substance that Ledale had thrown on the ground. After requesting and receiving consent to search, the officer also found a small plastic wrapper on Ledale’s person which contained a pill believed to be Xanax.
38 year old James Scott Hall is cited for speeding and charged with a second offense of driving on a revoked license. His bond is $3,000 and he will be in court on January 8. Chief Caplinger said Hall was operating a motor vehicle when he was stopped for speeding. He could only produce an ID. A computer check revealed his license were revoked for a DUI. Hall was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
32 year old Rhonda Williams is cited for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on December 9. Chief Caplinger said an officer was dispatched to the store in reference to a shoplifter. The store manager told the officer that Williams was seen putting items in her purse. She was stopped outside the store where she produced the stolen items from her purse.
37 year old Lynda Neville is cited for theft of merchandise at Walmart. Chief Caplinger said that on December 11 an officer was informed by a loss prevention employee that Neville had been seen placing items in her purse. The officer made contact with Neville, who allegedly admitted to taking several items from the store.
33 year old Jayme Denise Hendrixson is cited for shoplifting at Walmart. She will be in court on January 15. Chief Caplinger said Hendrixson was seen allegedly concealing items from the store in her shirt sleeves, pockets, and purse. Items from the store were found in her jacket.
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